Collegiate Times

By Nick Cafferky, news editor

In the world of sports, you have two types of fans: those who prefer college sports, and those who prefer professional sports.

I couldn’t even throw out a guess as to which is more popular throughout the country, but for me, it isn’t even close; pro ball reigns supreme and there is no substitute.

I don’t care about “atmosphere,” and I don’t buy the idea that college players try harder than their counterparts at the next level.

To me, that argument is on par with the idea that David Eckstein is “scrappy.” He isn’t — you just think that because he’s not very good and he somehow convinced everyone that his work ethic makes up for his lack of talent.

Now, I am willing to make two exceptions: college football and March Madness.

Gameday on a college campus is pretty epic and there is nothing like the Cinderella Story in the NCAA Tournament.

But that’s it.

For every game like this season’s Virginia Tech and Miami football game, there’s one like the Appalachian State blowout where fans leave at halftime.

SEC football is honestly the only thing that can approach its professional version, and it’s because pretty much every player in the conference will one day be playing on Sundays.

And don’t even dare suggest regular season college basketball comes close to the NBA. There’s a reason I paid $169 for NBA League Pass, and it’s because I’d rather empty my wallet to watch Kevin Durant than watch college kids miss open shots and butcher the fundamentals of my favorite game.

My argument is simple: if you want to see sports played the right way, you watch the pros.

If a player is really as good as people say he is, I’ll see it when he goes ham on the best players in the world.

The fact that he averaged 20 points per game in college means absolutely nothing to me, as he scored the majority of those points on a guy that went on to be an accountant upon graduation.

I will never understand how someone loves watching a player dominate over those athletically inferior to himself in college, but then forgets he exists a year later when he has turned pro and is being challenged by people just as gifted.

Take Harrison Barnes as an example.

Watching him take over in games for North Carolina is truly amazing, but that drama wouldn’t compare with watching him try and do the same thing against the Durantula or Andre Iguodala.

It’s like saying you’d rather see Floyd Mayweather Jr. beat up on “Sugar” Shane Mosely than see an epic battle between him and Manny Pacquiao.

Also, it is worth mentioning that while you can watch enough NBA basketball to know just about everything that is going on in the league, you can’t come close in college ball; there are just too many teams.

Think back to everything you “know” about college basketball. How much of that is from what you have seen with your own two eyes and how much is based off of one clip Doug Gottlieb showed you.

That’s what I thought

So don’t come up to me and ask me what I think about Connecticut’s starting five this year or if Jared Sullinger is the real deal. I don’t know and I don’t really care.

I do know Tech basketball inside and out, but that’s only because I cover it and it is my job. I’d honestly rather cover the mess of a team that is the Washington Wizards.

After all, even the worst player on the Wizards was once one of the best in college basketball.

Follow Nick on Twitter at  @NickCaffCT

By Nick Cafferky, news editor

In the midst of a difficult season during which the Hokies have struggled to keep their heads above water, head coach Seth Greenberg decided to make a personnel change Sunday night, inserting freshman C.J. Barksdale into the starting lineup for the first time this season.

The adjustment to the starting five was the result of Barksdale’s effort in practice, as Greenberg said that is why the group of Erick Green, Marquis Rankin, Victor Davila, Dorenzo Hudson and Barksdale started.

“I told them yesterday that the five hardest playing guys in practice are going to play,” Greenberg said. “The culture of this program was built on being tough and I was not happy with how competitive we were and I was trying to find one thing that we could redefine ourselves by.”

Greenberg even elaborated so much as to say that it is “unfortunate” that Barksdale was inserted into the starting lineup because he might not be ready for such a big role.

“Barksdale has a lot of areas he has to improve in, but he’s got a niche because he pursues the ball.”

Unfortunately, Barksdale only saw 12 minutes of game time due to an ankle sprain that will have him questionable for Thursday night’s game against Florida State. Barksdale finished with three points and three rebounds.

Notably absent from that list of starters was the night’s star Dorian Finney-Smith, who had 17 points and eight rebounds — seven of which came on the offensive glass.

“He had good practices, he just didn’t practice as hard as C.J.,” Greenberg said. “He didn’t play as hard as Dorenzo. He played all right in practice; he just didn’t play as well as those guys.

“I told them, ‘You’ll all play. It’s not like someone is not going to play — we’ve got nine guys, but you’ve got to earn it.’”

As for next game’s lineup, Greenberg wasn’t willing to say anyone was a lock for the starting lineup, including Finney-Smith.

“We’ll see how he practices Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said.

Photo by Daniel Lin, SPPS

By Nick Cafferky, News Editor

Even before tonight’s game, there was little doubt that Danny Coale’s name would be entrenched in the memories of every Hokies fan that has seen him play over the last four years.

But as all legends do, Coale was determined to put the finishing touch on his career with the catch of a lifetime to all but win the Sugar Bowl. He just came up short.

On third and five, Coale made what appeared to be a miraculous touchdown, and the initial ruling was that he had somehow pulled one last trick out of his sleeve. It was all just false hope though, as officials reviewed the play and overruled the call on the field.

The rulebook says that an official needs indisputable evidence to over turn a call — something that no one in the Tech locker room can agree with.

“I mean, I was standing right in front of him,” said David Wilson, running back. “I was probably the closest person to him on the catch and I saw it. I turned around and the referee said touchdown, and threw his hands up. They reviewed it and, for some reason, they changed it. I don’t think there was clear evidence to reverse the call.”

That was hardly the end of Wilson’s thoughts on the refereeing in tonight’s game, as he was also quick to point out several other controversial calls.

“The referees definitely played a big part in today’s game,” he said. “Earlier, they called a pass interference on Jayron Hosley and then they called one on me and said I was down — and then Danny Coale. I mean, it was over and over again.”

Coale finished the game with eight receptions for 117 yards. However, it was his one mistake — the botched punt-run option late in the fourth quarter that was stuck in his mind.

“I should have punted the ball when I ran it and Michigan was able to capitalize on it and I wanted another opportunity to make something happen for these guys,” he said. “We put together a nice little drive and sent it into overtime, but we just couldn’t finish it there in the end.”

Following the game and heartbreaking loss, fans were not any less appreciative of what Coale has done for them. As Coale walked off the field for the final time in a Hokies uniform, it was to the sound of fans chanting his name.

“Those fans have been so special to me and this program. For them to come down here and cheer us on,, they’re definitely the best fans in college football and to be associated with those guys makes me so proud.”

Follow Nick at @NickCaffCT

By Nick Cafferky, News Editor

With kickoff just a few short hours away the term “X-factor” has become a huge buzzword of every analysts vocabulary.

Just about every aspect of the game has been dissected as to why it will be the reason one team wins over another.

But out of all of them being thrown around, the experience factor could be the most intriguing.

When talking Michigan football, the word “inexperienced” is seldomly used. After all, we are talking about the same team that has 11 national championships and is one of the most distinguished programs in the history of college football.

However, that history means nothing, and the inexperienced label is a perfect fit for this Wolverine team. And that inexperience starts at the top.

First-year coach Brady Hoke has yet to be on this kind of stage before, as his previous jobs at Ball State and San Diego State never put him in games that had this kind of magnitude.

In comparison, this is the Hokies sixth BCS bowl game with Frank Beamer since the system started in 1998.

Hoke isn’t denying the gap in experience between himself and Beamer, but he was quick to point out that his staff isn’t exactly a collection of neophytes.

“We are a pretty seasoned staff,” Hoke said, “when you look at us from guys who have coached in a lot of Bowl games, a lot of different teams. So we always have great input on preparation and are we doing enough or are we not doing enough and those kind of things.

“But I would think that there’s something to having those years of experience and the quality of coach that Coach Beamer is.”

Hoke isn’t the only one that is stepping into new territory for Michigan though, as his team hasn’t seen lights quite this bright either. Michigan’s last BCS bowl was the Rose Bowl in 2007, which means that no one on this roster has played in a big bowl game.

In fact, last year’s loss in the Gator Bowl was the only bowl experience for these players because they failed to win the six games needed to qualify for bowl season in 2009 and 2010.

On the flip side, the seniors at Virginia Tech are playing in their third BCS Bowl of their careers and have been in bowl games all four seasons.

Unfortunately for Beamers squad, experience is only one of dozens of factors. Sometimes it is a huge advantage, sometimes it isn’t. The Hokies had that same advantage in the 2008 Orange Bowl, but still went home with a loss to Kansas. Then again, experience was a huge advantage the next year when Tech beat Cincinnati to claim its first-ever victory in a BCS bowl.

“We’ve had some great wins and we’ve done a great job getting (into BCS bowl games),” Beamer said. “But now we need to take that next step and get our share of the BCS wins. And that’s, I think, the challenge to Virginia Tech and to the ACC right now is that not only get here, but get a win.  And that’s what we’re going to try like heck to do.”

No one will know how much — if at all — experience will matter in this year’s Sugar Bowl. But if the Hokies are lucky, they could be playing the proverbial deer in the headlights.

Follow Nick on Twitter at @NickCaffCT

With the Sugar Bowl kicking off in just a few hours, here’s how a few members of the sports staff think the game will play out:

Matt Jones, sports editor (@MattJonesCT): Michigan 30 Virginia Tech 27

At the end of the day, this one will come down to making plays in the fourth quarter, an area Michigan excelled at in 2011. With the Hokies without starting kicker Cody Journell, late game situations will be much riskier with JustinMyer handling the kicking duties. The Hokies haven’t played a complete game in 2011, and I look for Michigan to capitalize on just enough opportunities to pull out the win.

Zach Mariner, sports editor (@ZMarinerCT): Virginia Tech 28 Michigan 27

Even though this game received a lot of national criticism because of the two teams playing in it, it could very well be one of the most exciting contests of this year’s bowl season. While a lot of the focus for this game has been on Tech’s defense slowing down Denard Robinson, Tech’s offense v. Michigan’s defense will be the matchup that determines the outcome of this game. If Logan Thomas and David Wilson have success against the Wolverines’ defense, it will be tough for Michigan to win on Tuesday night. Expect a close game that comes down to one or two big plays in the fourth quarter.

Nick Cafferky, news editor (@NickCaffCT): Michigan 24 Virginia Tech 17

The Hokies defense seems to think that it is faster than Denard Robinson, but I’m going to respectfully disagree. I think it will do a decent job, but he’ll still bust a few plays. On offense, I think the Hokies will suffer from the month off. Logan Thomas is the type of quarterback who needs to start off strong to build his confidence up. BCS bowls are known for starting off painfully slow with teams shaking off their rust and I think that hurts Tech more than Michigan.

Alex Koma, sports staff writer (@AlexKoma): Michigan 35 Virginia Tech 17

While it would be nice to believe that the Hokies will be able to validate their place in a BCS bowl, Michigan presents an extremely tough match up for Tech to deal with. The team’s struggles against Clemson are well documented, and the Wolverines are similar to the Tigers in their reliance on the run game with a mobile quarterback, only to a more extreme nature. The Hokies are simply too depleted on defense to contain the nation’s 12th ranked rushing attack, and unless Logan Thomas and company can keep up in a shoot out, the team will suffer BCS disappointment once again.

Mike Platania, sports staff writer: Michigan 23 Virginia Tech 21

In order for the Hokies to top the Wolverines, they’ll have to stop dual-threat QB Denard Robinson, who’s accounted for 34 touchdowns this season. Both teams field stingy defenses, as both have shut out conference opponents this year. If the Hokies want to leave the Bayou victorious, David Wilson will certainly need more than 11 carries, which was all he got in Tech’s ACC Championship Game loss to Clemson. Tech misses a late field goal to lose.

By Nick Cafferky, news editor

Defensive coordinator Bud Foster spoke at his press conference in New Orleans this morning and addressed an array of topics from his defensive scheme, to the challenges of going up against a player like Denard Robinson. Here are a few highlights.

ON KYLE FULLER’S SEASON THUS FAR: “He has really had a great football season for us.  In my opinion, I think he’s our MVP.  If I had my pick, he just made some big plays at opportune times, and some important times and key games for us.  And I’m really, really proud of him.  He’s just one of those ?? he’s just a complete football player.  And he’s had a heck of a year for us.”

ON HOW HE WOULD DESCRIBE HIS DEFENSIVE SCHEME: “You know, we’ve tweaked it over the years.  We’ve done a lot of different things. We’ve been very versatile over the years.  You know, I’d like to think that we have been an attacking aggressive style defense over time.  I think we’ve tweaked things because of what offenses have done and how offenses have changed.  I think we’ve done a good job over the years of changing with them and adapting to the different styles that you’re seeing today.”

ON QB DENARD ROBINSON AND HOW TO CONTAIN HIM: “Denard has had a great year and is a great athlete and dynamic player with the ball in his hand.  And unfortunately throws the ball a little better than I want him to. We played some guys over the years, the Pat Whites and guys of that nature when we played them they were dynamic ball carriers. If you stop the run, then I think you gained a huge advantage.”

ON HIS THOUGHTS OF MICHIGAN’S OFFENSE IN GENERAL: “Without giving away anything we’re wanting to do, we obviously have to get off on the football and be physical.  That’s what they’re going to do.  That’s one thing I’ve been impressed with, is just their toughness and their play.  They play for 60 minutes.  And that’s one thing we’ve really prided ourselves in over the years is being a team that’s going to play from the opening whistle to the final whistle and play hard. … Whoever wins the line of scrimmage is going to win the football game.  And obviously that’s a tremendous challenge for us, but as I’ve also told our kids it’s a great opportunity.”

ON HOW THIS YEAR’S UNIT COMPARES TO THOSE IN PREVIOUS YEARS: “I think we’re in the top 12 or 15 in a lot of categories, if not most of them.  But that’s still not where we want to be yet. But we’ve made tremendous strides from last year to this year.  Started back in January when we came back from our previous Bowl game.  I didn’t think we played a great second half.  But I think part of our youth we were very young last year, and I think it was exposed a little bit and our kids have ?? they’ve made a commitment and we made a commitment that we need to take that next step.”

Be sure to follow @NickCaffCT, @MattJonesCT and ZMarinerCT all week for the Collegiate Times coverage of the Sugar Bowl.

By Nick Cafferky, sports special sections editor

 At the mature age of 21, I stand at an intersection of my life as to what Christmas means to me. The magical feeling of Santa Claus’ arrival on Christmas Eve is no longer there, but I’ve seen “A Christmas Carol” way too many times to voluntarily become Ebenezer Scrooge.

But just when I was giving up on the idea that Dec. 25 would be special, I thought of the perfect gift — one that would make me feel giddy like a 10 year-old-boy again: the end of coach speak.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the term, coach speak is the unique language coaches use when talking to the media that allows them to talk for minutes, but not actually say anything useful. It is a way of stringing sports clichés together, so you don’t have to say anything worthwhile to the media and to keep all real emotions in the locker room.

Frank Beamer is the king of coach speak and is qualified to teach a lecture on the subject. Listen to the press conference following the 2010 loss to James Madison and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Without further ado, here is a list of phrases I would like stricken from the vocabulary of every coach and analyst covering sports. If someone grants me this wish, feel free to donate all of my gifts to Africa.

“You have to give ____________ a lot of credit.”

No, I don’t. As the great Herman Edwards once said, “You play to win the game! Hello?!” In sports, all people care about is wins and losses. We give people credit when they win by talking about them and forget them when they’re losing. If a player has great numbers on a bad team, that is what statistics are used for.  Furthermore, what do these people even mean when the want us to do to give someone “credit”? Acknowledge his/her performance? If it was that impressive, I would have noticed myself thank you very much. I don’t need anyone to force the idea on me.

“The refereeing …”

This one is more for fans than coaches (coaches rarely talk about this because they prefer not to be fined), but please don’t blame the refereeing for a loss. Even on a last second call that affects the score of the game, it isn’t the refereeing. That last-second call might not have gone your way, but I bet the exact same thing happened in the first quarter in your favor. Just because the one that “screwed” your team was a last second call, it doesn’t mean its impact was greater, it just happened at a more climactic point of the game. Over the course of a game, or the entire season, human error balances itself out. Fans just don’t want to believe it.

“They played a great game.”/ “They are a good team.”

When Tech lost to JMU in 2010, I think Beamer used these, and different variations of the two, about 20 times in a ten minute press conference. Everyone knew he had to be lying. I mean, it was after the most embarrassing loss in the program’s history and he was sitting there acting like the Hokies lost to elite competition. Just once, I would like to be in a press conference where the coach flat out said, “Wow, I’m embarrassed. That team we lost to is nowhere near as good as we are and if you excuse me, there are a couple players on my team that I need to yell at until they cry.”

“Take it one game at a time.”

I understand this one in theory, but it still is a horrible way to answer a question. If the reporter asks, “you’ll have to win your next three to win the division, what will you have to do?” he wants you to give him a generalized synopsis of what you think the team needs to improve on. I understand that coaches can’t think too far ahead because they have to focus on that particular week’s game plan, but that isn’t what the reporter was asking about. And of you happen to be 4-6 and a reporter asks about the playoffs, feel free to follow after Jim Mora and give us a rant we can talk about for decades.

“They have the same number of scholarship athletes we do.”

This one should be called “The Seth Greenberg” because I think I’ve heard him say it a dozen times. Whenever Tech plays bad team and a reporter asks Greenberg about the quality of the opponents, he is quick to point out that all teams have 13 scholarships, as if that somehow makes the quality of athletes UNC gets equal to that of St. Bonaventure. Not all teams are equal, and no one should try to spin it that way. There are teams on everybody’s schedules that are inferior and they are there to provide some competition in the down time before conference games. Can those teams catch you by surprise? Yes. But it isn’t because it has the same number of scholarship athletes, it’s because you had a bad day and a basketball game is only 40 minutes long.

“I don’t think the BCS is the problem”

Yes it is. Please stop talking.

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickCaffCT

By Nick Cafferky, sports special sections editor

A few notes from the 3rd quarter

• UNC running back Giovani Bernard, who left in the second quarter from an apparent helmet-to-helmet hit with Jayron Hosley, has a mild concussion and will not return. However, in his place, A.J. Blue has performed just fine, rushing for 32 on 9 attempts
• Hokies scored on first drive of the half, going 70 yards on 9 plays. Touchdown was on a Thomas run up the middle for 23 yards. Thomas was just trying to get first down on 3rd-and-two, got a lot more
• With that rushing touchdown, Thomas ties Bib Schweickert for 2nd all time with 9 rushing TDs by a QB. He’s two behind Bruce Arians.
• Since catching three balls in the first quarter, Jones has yet to touch the ball. Hosley has played much better since bad start.
• Hokies second touchdown as on seven plays and went for 67 yards. Touchdown was on 4-yard pas to D.J. Coles
• With 9 receptions Jarrett Boykin has set his career high on his senior day and has eclipsed 100 yards. Great way to end his career.

Notable Stats

Logan Thomas: 18-of-30 192 yards 2 TDs; 9 rushes 48 yards 1 TD

Bryn Renner (UNC): 7-of-16 91 yards

David Wilson: 13 rushes 50 yards

A.J. Blue (UNC): 9 rushes 32 yards

Jarrett Boykin: 9 receptions 103 yards

Danny Coale: 4 receptions 37 yards

Follow Nick on Twitter at @NickCaffCT

By Nick Cafferky, sports special sections editor

A few notes from the first half…

• Andrew Miller is in locker room with a right ankle injury. Return is questionable
• Hokies touchdown was on a 18 play, 95 yard drive that ate up 7:59. Drive was highlighted by a 17-yard on 3rd-and-18 by Logan Thomas and capped off by Chris Drager’s second touchdown catch in as many weeks.
• UNC running back Giovani Bernard took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jayron Hosley, and after staying down for several minutes, walks off of field with help. He will be evaluated at halftime.
• After starting 4-of-4 n the first quarter, Renner was just 1-of-5 in the second.

Notable Stats

Logan Thomas: 12-of-20 109 yards, 1 TD

Bryn Renner (UNC): 5-of-9 66 yards

Giovani Bernard (UNC): 10 rushes for 47 yards, 1 TD

David Wilson: 9 rushes for 55 yards

Dwight Jones (UNC): 3 receptions 53 yards

Jarrett Boykin: 7 receptions 60 yards

Chris Drager: 1 rec 11 yards, 1 TD

Follow Nick on Twitter at @NickCaffCT

By Nick Cafferky, sports special sections editor

A few notes from the first quarter…

• After receiving the ball, the Hokies started the game with catastrophe, as Logan Thomas was sacked and fumbled the ball on the first play. UNC took over on the VT 20-yard line, and three plays later, RB Gionvani Bernard was in with a 4-yard touchdown just 1:18 into the game.
• Jayron Hosley is having noticeable problems with 6’4″ receiver Dwight Jones, who already has three receptions for 53 yards
• UNC quarteback Bryn Renner  is 4-for-4 so far for 56 yards. Has looked great so far.
• Meanwhile, Thomas is having problems getting the ball off, as his offensive line has been unable to give him time

Notable Stats

Logan Thomas: 5-of-10 39 yards

David Wilson: 3 rushes, 9 yards

Jarrett Boykin: 4 receptions, 32 yards

Giovani Berard: 7 rushes, 26 yards 1 TD